Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-08-31

too impish to be trusted. You will
work under him ?"
Certainly, if 1 can thereby earn
my bread"
''Of that there is no doubt. My
father will pay you well, if only you
are competent.
eyes, if only can be competent; and
as you are so Kind, let me tell you my
name-Kenneth West, once an En-
glishman, now citizen of the world"
Three months later this was the
sum total of what Maplewood and
vicinity knew of Kenneth VESTS
past. Of his present, it knew very
well that the Mintons had liz
him q treasure; as for break
ing, training and conditioning horses,
his equal was not in all the
countryside. Then he gave himself no
airs, and at hard manual labor,
though evidently unframed, made
muscle answer in place Of skill.
1t soon came not to be required OF
him. Uncle Ned, thecoal-black stable
boss, after watching him master and
control 8 powerful young stallion, de-
clared to his old master, "'Twas er
shame ter put pillow er hoe handles in
dat mans hans; he ought ter be hold
in de feathers from mornin' t'well
night" and always thereafter ad-
dressed his subordinate as "Marse
West" And Squire Minton himself
soon found that his new employee had
such culture and intelligence as made
him not merely welcome companion
in his leisure hours, but also doubly
valuable in his own sphere.
And Grace, too, soon developed a
cordial liking for the young man, who,
she discovered was two years her jun
Tor, and for whom she delighted to
do. unobtrusively, small womanly
kindnesses, for which he showed liveli-
est gratitude, though he never pre-
sumed on them in the faintest degree.
In fact, it angered her somewhat that
he never seemed to forget his place as
hireling and stranger within the gates,
though but two people ever tried to
make him conscious Of it, namely Mr..
Hector Highland, the most irritant of
the brothersin-law, and his cousin,
Jack Bell, who for six months or more
had laid hot siege to Miss Minton and
her money.
1t was under the hunters moon,
shining round and full through the soft
October air, that Grace at last heard
the story of her founding. Though
unusual, it was not startling, with
only the pathos of dead hope and the
tragedy of crushed ambition. He was
in full, Kenneth Westmoreland, one
of a generation of younger sons, who
at twenty-five years before-had
come out to the Rugby Colony full of
youths high purpose, and after the
stranding of that venture had drifted
aimlessly out away into whatever
current of the moment bore him on,
always to ill-fortune. Irregularly edu-
Gated, and with but desultory training
In anything save riding, shooting and
athletics, he had sought work and
found none, till money, hope and
courage were utterly gone, and on the
May morning when Grace han encoun,
tered him he made himself ready to lie
down and starve quietly, having eaten
nothing since the morning before, when
his last garment was bartered for
bread.
1t did not matter much, he thong It;
he was alone in the world, that had
evidently no place for him; it was
even better starving In solitude than
In the crowd he had left behind. From
that Grace had saved him, bat there
the matter seemed to end. He showed
no other thought or purpose than to
keep his place-go on and on, the
trained and trusted hireling, who new
or dreams of looking beyond his pres
ent sphere. In fact, so acquiescent
was he in fate's harsh dealings, Grace
grew fairly angry with him, and VOW
ed inwardly to waste no more thought
or care upon dis future, which she was
sure might be q notable one, if he only
had the energy and ambition so to
will it.
And this laudable resolve she might,
and doubtless would have kept, but
for the marplot brother in law, High
hand, to whom went Mr.. Bell, in high
dudgeon over curt dismissal, and who
straightway rode over and demanded
OF Squire Minton that he bring his
daughter to shear reason" that is,
accept Mr.. Bell.
ga man of substance, the best
chance in the county, and the master
she has always needed"
Squire Minton heard him through,
nervously rubbing his helpless hands,
himself strongly inclined to Bells suit;
but his nerves were not strong now,
and he could not bear to cross Grace,
who had been so long his stay and
companion, as we'll as daughter; so he
temporized and counseled patience,
intimating that one f'no" was not final
in fact that often one such negative
was more than half equivalent to an
affirmative. But on this Mr.. Highland
burst In hotly.
"Wait! Oh, yes, wait! Wait until
she disgraces herself with that tramp
stable-boy, who ought, I've no doubt,
to be hung: | saw her watching him
at the training track, and would have
brought her away only | wanted to
see you alone and try and open your
eyes. They have been philandering
and love.making ever since he came.
I'll bet my head"
"And lose it, but that will not mat
ter; in fact will be an Improvement"
Miss Minton said, stepping through
the French window and facing her as